Clasp



Feb. 1, 1966 DE WOSKIN ETAL 3,231,954

CLASP Filed Dec. 26, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INT M1. 9

Feb. 1, 1966 I. 5. DE WOSKIN ETAL 3,231,954

CLASP 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1963 FIG .7.

FIG.9.

Feb. 1, 1966 DE WOSKIN ETAL 3,231,954

CLASP 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 26, 196$ United States Patent 3,231,954 CLASP Irvin S. DeWoskin and Kenneth J. DeWoskin, both of 1000 Washington Ave., St. Louis 1, Mo.

Filed Dec. 26, 1963, Ser.No. 338,276 17 Claims. (Cl. 24-245) This application is a continuation-in-part of our application Serial No. 309,224, filed September 16, 1963, entitled Clasp and now abandoned.

This invention relates to clasps, and more particularly to clasps for gripping items of apparel.

The invention is especially concerned with a hose supporter clasp such as is used on a hose supporter, a garter belt or the like for holding up womens stockings. Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a clasp especially for this purpose, although obviously useful for other purposes, which is relatively flat and unobstrusive as worn under a garment, the clasp being made of plastic and being relatively inexpensive to manufacture, as regards conventional prior clasps of the type havinga loop portion formed of wire and a narrow fabric tab carrying a rubber button receivable in the loop; the provision ofa clasp such as described which is adapted tightly to grip a stocking or the like without damaging the stockings, and whichis simple to manipulate for grippingand-releasing a stocking; the provision of a clasp such as described which may be made in one piece; and the provision of a clasp such as described which, while being made of plastic and being relatively thin, is not prone to break. Other objectsand features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed,the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

.MIn the accompanyingdrawings, in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated,

" FIG. -l-is a'front elevation of one embodiment of clasp made in accordance with this invention;

FIG;-2-is a side or edge elevation of the FIG. 1 clasp;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. l, showing how a part of the clasp is initially manipulated for gripping a stocking;

4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the stocking in phantom;

-- -FIG1f5 is aviewsimilar to. FIG. 3 showing the final disposition of the parts of the clasp when gripping a stocking i I FIG.- 6 is a side or edge elevation of FIG. showing the gripped stocking in phantom;

FIG. 7 is'a'rearelevationof ablank adapted to be foldedto form asecond embodiment of the clasp;

. FIG. 8 isan enlarged section taken on line 8-8 of l. l iiswabodinient. after ,the latter has been folded;

FIG; 10 is a front elevation of FIG. 9;

11 is a rear elevation of a blank adapted to he folded to form athird embodiment of the clasp; H 1 2is afront elevation of the FIG. 11 embodiment after the lattei" has been folded showing a supporter in phantom; k

FIG. l3'is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing, a blank used to foim another embodiment;

FIG. 14' is a side or edge elevation of the FIG. 13 blank; FIG. '15 an enlarged section taken on line 1515 FIG. '16 is a view in elevation of the clasp formed from the FIG. 13 blank; and

FIG. 17 is a side or edge elevation of FIG. 16.

side or, edge elevation of theFIG. 7 emforward face 'of the flap 17 as viewed in FIG. 1.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawmgs.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6 of the drawings, a clasp made in accordance with this invention is shown to comprise an elongate fiat body 1 having a generally trangular stem portion 3 and a head portion 5 at the apex of the triangular stem portion, which constitutes the upper end of the body as illustrated. Head portion 5 has a slot 7 for attachment of the clasp to a supporter such as illustrated in phantom at 9 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Stem portion 3 of the body may be formed with an opening as at 11 to conserve material. One face 13 of the body constitutes its forward face, the other face 15 constitutes its back face.

A flap 17 is hinged to the other (lower) end of the body 1 (the base of triangular stem 3) along a hinge line 19 transverse to the body. This flap is swingable forward away from a normal position (shown in FIG. 2) generally coplanar with the body, and swingable rearward back to this normal position.- It has a buttonhole 21 therein. As shown this buttonhole is formed by a relatively narrow slot extending transversely of the flap at the hinge line 19. The flap is shown as tapered toward its free end as indicated at 23, but it will be understood that this is not essential.

At 25 is indicated an elongated flat tongue which is joined at one end as indicated at 27 to the body 1 adjacent the upper end of the body (immediately below the slot 7 in the head 5 of the body) and which extends lengthwise centrally of the body toward the lower end of the body in front of the forward face 13 of the body. This tongue is swingable away from and back toward the forward face 13 of the body.

A button 29 is hinged to the other (lower) end of the tongue along a hinge line 31 transverse to the tongue. With the tongue lying generally flat against the forward face 13 of the body 1, this hinge line is located somewhat below the hinge line 19, and generally in register, with the lower edge of the buttonhole 21. The button is adapted for passage through the buttonhole and for being locked in a gripping position (see FIGS. 5 and 6) lying generally flat against the back of the body 1 and the flap 17 by swinging the flap 17 forward and then back to its normal position after the button has been passed through the buttonhole, as will appear.

As herein illustrated, the clasp is formed from plastic material. It is possible that the body 1, flap 17, tongue 25 and button 29 may be integrally molded in one piece as by injection molding. Or body 1 and flap 17 may be molded as one piece, tongue 25 and button 29 as one piece, and the tongue (with the button thereon) joined at 27 as by a heat-sealing operation to the body 1. It is preferred that the plastic material be polypropylene, and that the hinges at 19 and 31 be formed by scores or grooves in the polypropylene. It has been found that polypropylene has the characteristic of being flexible at an integral hinge formed by such scoring or grooving and, at the same time, being remarkably strong even though very thin at such a hinge. It even appears that the strength increases with repeated flexing at the hinge.

Button 29, as shown, is generally kidney or crescentshaped, integrally joined to the lower end of tongue 25 at hinge line 31 centrally of the inner peripheral edge of the kidney or crescent, and having lobes 33 which extend upward on opposite sides of the lower end of the tongue 25 when the button occupies its normal flat positionon the The tongue may have cutouts at its sides as indicated at 35 to accommodate these lobes.

The score forming the hinge line 19 for the flap 17 is in the back of the stem 3 and the flap 17, so as to enable the flap 17 to be swung forward. The score forming the hinge line 31 for the button 29 is in the front of the tongue 25 and the button so as to enable the button to be swung rearward (see FIG. 4).

In using the clasp, the tongue 25 and body 3 are straddled over the top of a stocking S as illustrated in FIG. 2. Button 29 is swung rearward as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 to a position generally at right angles to the tongue, and passed rearward through the buttonhole 21 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Tongue 25 flexes to some extent to permit this, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, and there is usually some attendant forward swing of flap 17. The button pushes a portion S1 of the stocking S through the buttonhole.

After the button 29 has been passed through the buttonhole 21 (see'the dotted lines in FIG. 4), the fiap 17 is swung upward on hinge 19. The edge of the flap 17 at the lower side of the buttonhole 21 wipes over the lobes 33 of the button, and comes into a position above these lobes. Then flap 17 is swung back down more or less to its original normal position generally coplanar with body 1 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) the button is locked in gripping position lying generally fiat against the back of the body 1 and flap 17. This securely grips the stocking, and the entire clasp, in its gripping condition, is generally flat and unobtrusive.

To release the stocking, the manipulation is reversed, i.e., flap 17 is swung up, button 29 is swung to a position generally at right angles to tongue 25, and withdrawn through the buttonhole.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7-10. It is of generally the same construction as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, with similar parts being numbered the same. However, the tongue 25, rather than being connected to body 1 as by heat-sealing, for example, as in the first embodiment, includes a head portion 5a which is integrally hinged to the upper end of body 1 along a hinge line 41. Thus, the clasp may be conveniently molded of plastic in one piece. Head portion 5a has a slot 70: which registers with slot 7 for attachment of the clasp to a supporter. The score forming the hinge line 41 is in the back of the clasp so as to enable the tongue 25 and its head 5a to be swung forward to the position shown in FIG. 9. The clasp is used and manipulated in the same manner as the clasp of the embodiment shown in FIGS. l-6.

A third embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. This is substantially identical to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-10, but has a slot 51 in head portions 5 and 5a extending across the hinge 41 between the transverse slots 7 and 7a. When the tongue 25 and head 5a are swung forward to the position shown in FIG. 12, slot 51 provides an entrance to the registered supporter-receiving slots 7 and 7a. Thus, the clasp can be connected to a supporter simply by slipping the latter through the opening 51 into slots 7 and 7a. The clasp is used and manipulated in the same manner as the clasps of the first two embodiments described above.

FIGS. 13-17 illustrate a fourth embodiment which is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-10 or the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, except that the button, designated 2% in FIGS. 13-17 is initially molded in a plane transverse to the tongue 25, being integrally hinged to the end of the tongue on a line extending transversely with respect to the button. This hinging is provided by means of scores or grooves 31a in both faces of the tongue at its juncture with the button. The use and manipulation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-17 is essentially the same as above described for the other embodiments.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A clasp comprising a generally fiat body formed at one end for attachment to a supporter, one face of the body constituting a forward face and the other a back face, a flap hinged to the other end of the body along a hinge line transverse to the body, said flap being swingable relative to the body on said hinge line forward away from a normal position generally coplanar with the body, and swingable rearward back to said normal position, said flap having a buttonhole therein, a tongue joined at one end thereof to the body adjacent said one end of the body and extending lengthwise of the body toward its other end in front of said forward face of the body, said tongue being swingable away from and back toward said forward face of the body, and a button hinged to the other end of the tongue along a hinge line transverse to the tongue, said button being adapted for passage through said buttonhole and for being locked in a gripping position lying generally fiat against the back of the body and the flap by swinging the flap forward and then back to its normal position after the button has been passed through the buttonhole.

2. A clasp as set forth in claim 1 in which the body", flap, tongue and button are formed of plastic material, the body and flap being integral and the flap being integrally hinged to the body, the tongue and button being integral and the button being integrally hinged to the tongue.

3. A clasp as set forth in claim 2 wherein the body, flap, tongue and button are formed of polypropylene, the flap being integrally hinged to the body at a score in the polypropylene and the button being integrally hinged to the tongue at a score in the polypropylene.

4. A clasp as set forth in claim 2 wherein the clasp is formed from a one-piece blank, the tongue and body being integrally hingedly connected at said one end.

5. A clasp as set forth in claim 4 wherein said body and tongue each have a head portion at said one end, said head portions being integrally hingedly connected along one edge thereof and having transverse slots therein adapted to register for reception of a supporter.

6. A clasp as set forth in claim 1 wherein said button is initially generally coplanar with the tongue.

7. A clasp as set forth in claim 1 wherein said button is initially in a plane transverse to the tongue.

8. A clasp formed of plastic material having an elongate generally flat body formed at one end for attachment to a supporter, one face of the body constituting a forward face and the other a back face, a flap integrally hinged to the other end of the body along a hinge line transverse to the body, said flap being swingable relative to the body on said hinge line forward away from a normal position generally coplanar with the body, and swingable rearward back to said normal position, there being a buttonhole in said flap constituted by a slot extending transversely of the flap adjacent said hinge line, a generally flat elongate tongue joined at one end thereof to the body adjacent said one end of the body and extending lengthwise of the body toward the flap in front of said forward face of the body generally centrally of said slot, and a button integrally hinged to the other end of said tongue on a hinge line extending transverse to the tongue and having portions extending in the direction away from said other end of the tongue on opposite sides of the tongue, said button being adapted for passage through said slot and adapted to be locked in a gripping position lying generally flat against the back of the body and the flap, with said portions of the button engaging the back of the fiap outward of the slot, by swinging the flap forward and then back to its normal position after the button has been passed through the slot.

9. A clasp as set forth in claim 8 in which the body and flap are integral with the flap integrally hinged to the body, and in which the tongue and button are integral with the button integrally hinged to the tongue.

10. A clasp as set forth in claim 9 wherein the body, flap, tongue and button are formed of polypropylene, the flap being integrally hinged to the body at a score in the polypropylene and the button being integrally hinged to the tongue at a score in the proypropylene.

11. A clasp as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first mentioned score is in the back of the body and flap and the second-mentioned score is in the front of the tongue and button.

12. A clasp as set forth in claim 11 wherein the clasp is formed from a one-piece blank, the tongue and body being integraly hingedly connected at said one end at a score in the back of the blank.

13. A clasp as set forth in claim 12 wherein said body and tongue each have a head portion at said one end, said head portion beingintegrally hingedly connected along one edge thereof and having transverse slots therein adapted to register for reception of a supporter.

14. A clasp formed of plastic material having an elongate generally fiat body formed at one end for attachment to a supporter, one face of the body constituting a forward face and the other a back face, a flap integrally hinged to the other end of the body along a hinge line transverse to the body, said flap being swingable relative to the body on said hinge line forward away from a normal position generally coplanar with the body, and swingable rearward back to said normal position, there being a buttonhole said flap constituted by a slot extending transversely of the flap adjacent said hinge line, a generally flat elongate tongue joined at one end thereof to the body adjacent said one end of the body and extending lengthwise of the body toward the flap in front of said forward face of the body generally centrally of said slot, and a button integrally hinged to the other end of said tongue on a hinge line extending transversely with respect to the button by means of score lines in both face-s of the tongue at its juncture with the button, said button being adapted for passage through said slot and adapted to be locked in a gripping position lying generally fiat against the back of the body and the flap, with said portions of the button engaging the back of the flap outward of the slot, by swinging the flap forward and then back to its normal position after the button has been passed through the slot.

15. A clasp as set forth in claim 14 wherein the firstmentioned score is in the back of the body and flap and the second-mentioned score is in the front of the tongue and button.

16. A clasp as set forth in claim 15 wherein said body and tongue each have a head portion at said one end, said head portions being integrally hingedly connected along one edge thereof and having transverse slots therein adapted to register for reception of a supporter.

17. A one-piece clasp formed of plastic material and comprising first and second flat head portions integrally hinged together along a hinge line extending transversely of the clasp, the first head portion having an elongate flat stem integral therewith extending lengthwise of the clasp, the second head portion having an elongate tongue integral therewith extending lengthwise of the clasp, said head portions being folded on said hinge line so that the second head portion normally lies in back of the first head portion and the tongue normally lies in back of said stem, each of said head portions having a transverse slot therein, said slots registering in the folded condition of the clasp for reception of a supporter, said stem having an opening therein, said tongue having a button integrally hinged thereto at its free end on a score line extending transversely of the tongue, said button normally lying in a plane transverse to the tongue for insertion through the opening in said stem with the button in a plane at an angle to the plane of the stem, and being adapted to pivot on said score line after insertion through said opening into a position lying flat in front of said stern, and said opening being formed in relation to the shape of the button as to preclude movement of the button back through the opening when the button is so positioned flat in front of the stem.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 518,964 5/1894 Parker 24--245 824,332 6/ 1906 Barnum 24--246 1,361,921 12/ 1920 Stevens 24198 2,127,666 8/1938 Parker 24-245 3,096,553 7/1963 Gould 24-246 FOREIGN PATENTS 97 3,469 9/ 1950 France.

91,388 4/ 1897 Germany. 843,986 7/ 1952 Germany. 1,062,191 7/ 1959 Germany.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner. 

1. A CLASP COMPRISING A GENERALLY FLAT BODY FORMED AT ONE END FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SUPPORTER, ONE FACE OF THE BODY CONSTITUTING A FORWARD FACE AND THE OTHER A BACK FACE, A FLAP HINGED TO THE OTHER END OF THE BODY ALONG A HINGE LINE TRANSVERSE TO THE BODY, SAID FLAP BEING SWINGABLE RELATIVE TO THE BODY ON SAID HINGE LINE FOWARD AWAY FROM A NORMAL POSITION GENERALLY COPLANAR WITH THE BODY, AND SWINGABLE REARWARD BACK TO SAID NORMAL POSITION, SAID FLAP HAVING A BUTTONHOLE THEREIN, A TONGUE JOINED AT ONE END THEREOF TO THE BODY ADJACENT SAID ONE END OF THE BODY AND EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF THE BODY TOWARD ITS OTHER END IN FRONT OF SAID FORWARD FACE OF THE BODY, SAID TONGUE BEING SWINGABLE AWAY FROM THE BACK TOWARD SAID FORWARD FACE OF THE BODY, AND A BUTTON HINGED TO THE OTHER END OF THE TONGUE ALONG A HINGE LINE TRANSVERSE TO THE TONGUE, SAID BUTTON BEING ADAPTED FOR PASSAGE THROUGH SAID BUTTONHOLE AND FOR BEING LOCKED IN A GRIPPING POSITION LYING GENERALLY FLAT AGAINST THE BACK OF THE BODY AND THE FLAP BY SWINGING THE FLAP FORWARD AND THEN BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION AFTER THE BUTTON HAS BEEN PASSED THROUGH THE BUTTONHOLE. 